Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
Tripawds is your home to learn how to care for a three legged dog or cat, with answers about dog leg amputation, and cat amputation recovery from many years of member experiences.
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Hey everyone this is my first post so bear with me I’m new to forums. Me and my girlfriend have just over a year old German Sheppard mix pup Haisley. Unfortunately a day ago she walked out into my backyard like she has since we adopted her and came back with a completely shattered hind leg. We’ve NEVER had problems with her running away or anything of that sort and she ALWAYS just walks outside and fools around in my fenced in back yard. Well I immediately took her to the vet after my roommate woke up up because I’m on night shift this week and the bone was absolutely shattered. Me going into the vet just thinking it was dislocated or thinking the bear minimum when I heard “amputation” my heart sank. She’s the sweetest dog on this planet and so protective. I had the option of amputation or doing an external fixator but with no 100 percent guarantee it would work and 30 percent chance we would have to amputate after 8-10 weeks of her not being able to do anything and problems down the road with it, risk of infections etc. So after a VERY hard decision we thought amputation would be the best option as it was a back leg. We’re heartborken for her and She’s been very down in the dumps and basically I’m just wanting to know if our sweet girl will be the same and how we can assure her to be happy. Me and my girlfriend have been taking this pretty hard because we don’t lnow how it happened and she’s basically our child. Any advice or tips for us would immensely help!
Hi Haisley and family, welcome. We are sorry about the accident but so glad she is still with you and can recover to go on and live a great life with you again. Please don't feel badly, you are doing your best and she knows it. Oftentimes the external fixators don't work as one hopes and the leg ends up needing amputation anyways. We see that happen quite a bit here.
So it sounds like she has the amputation? How far out from recovery? And when you say she's down in the dumps, what do you mean exactly? Oftentimes what we think is depression is side effects from post-amputation pain medication. What medication is she on?
First, know that this is so much harder on you than it is on Haisley. All she wants is to put the accident behind her and go on to feel good again. Once that recovery is over, you will see that she is even more adorable and lovable than ever, and she holds no ill will toward you. Try your best to remain pawsitive and hopeful, because animals really do absorb our emotions and reflect that right back to us. With amputation recovery, a good attitude is so important.
Have you seen Jerry's Required Reading List yet? Or our Tripawds e-books library? Hop on over for some tips that can help you and her h ave a better recovery and a healthy life ahead. Stay tuned, more will chime in shortly.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello 
I was scared and devastated as well learning my boy Snoopy needed amputation. But I knew right away he needed to have it done. The reward outweighed the risks. He is doing amazing, the exact same and he had a front leg removed (they carry more weight on the front). Every animal is different so I can’t say exactly how she will do. But I can reassure you that many can have a leg amputated and not just survive but thrive! Your girl is young and spirited, have faith is her abilities. It’ll be a learning curve at first, I’d say more so for you humans. The most important thing will be to not have her become overweight. Give her lots of love and motivation. Take it easy at first, keep her on leash. Exercise after she’s healed will be important to keep her body strong (but don’t over do it). Good luck!
Hi Haisley and pawrents. If you don't mind I think we need more information first. You said you let her out into the yard, is it fenced? I read you made the decision to amputate, have you done that and if so when was it done? You said completely shattered, like in just hanging there? Is it possible she was hit by a car? I think the "what happened" is really important because if your yard is fenced in and she never left the yard, how did she shatter her leg?
I am so sorry that this has happened to you, you are in a place here that can offer a multitude of help. Please tell us more about her story.
Jackie and Huckleberry
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Hi there, I’m so sorry that this has happened and I well understand how shocking and upsetting it is to suddenly find yourselves in this position. Ditto the others, Haisley will adapt very well and once she is through the recovery period, has every prospect of leading a full and happy life. Attempts to save the leg can often lead to more and more intervention, further complications and ultimately amputation may be necessary in any case. This is what happened to us.
Re the shattered leg, is it possible it was a spontaneous fracture caused by a bone condition? This can happen with a front leg as s consequence of a condition called IOHC, which basically means the base of the humerus hasn’t formed properly. This again is what happened to us. There was no trauma involved. Meg was running on grass and her elbow just suddenly exploded. I’ve never heard of anything like this with a rear leg, but I am not an expert. Have you seen an orthopaedic specialist? If not, then I would recommend you do so if possible. I think it would be important to establish if this was a non traumatic fracture and what caused it, as it could have implications for Haisley’s ongoing care.
In terms of Haisley’s mood, I would ditto what Jerry said. The more confidence and positivity you can project, the more Haisley will absorb this. It’s hard, I know, as this is a shocking and distressing thing to go through, but Haisley can enjoy life on three legs every bit as much as she did on four. There will be some adjustments for you all but no reason why her quality of life should be in any way diminished. My Meg will soon be two years on three and she greets each day with every bit as much joy-filled gusto as ever she did on four.
With warmest wishes,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
Me again....
Rereading your post, I’m a bit confused about the timings. You say that this happened ‘a day ago’? Is that right? So has she had the amputation? Either way, re her mood, I would imagine she’s just completely out of it from the meds. Right now, she just needs to be kept as quiet as possible. You’ll see her mood perk up as she recovers, but the more she rests now, the sooner that will happen.
Hugs,
Meg, Clare and Elsie Pie xxx
Ruby, Staffy, born June 2022, became a Tripawd, 23 November 2023, adopted 12 January 2024.
Also Angel Tripawd Meg (aka The Megastar), who died in April 2023, aged 14, after seven glorious years on three, and Angel Staffies Pie and Bille. In the pawprints of giants...
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